New Delhi: In a major breakthrough, the security forces killed Ashraf Molvi, one of the oldest terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen, along with two other militants, in an operation in South Kashmir on Friday. Molvi and the two other terrorists were killed in a forest in Batkoot area of Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district. Confirming the news, Kashmir's Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vijay Kumar said that two other terrorists, including Ashraf Molvi, have been killed in Pahalgam.
Ashraf Molvi was made the operations commander of Hizbul Mujahideen in Kashmir after Riyaz Naikoo was killed two years back on May 6, 2020.
Mohammad Ashraf Khan alias Ashraf Molvi, a resident of Tengpawa Kokernag area of South Kashmir's Anantnag district had joined Hizbul Mujahideen in 2013 and soon became the most wanted terrorist in the Valley. IGP Kumar said that he was instrumental in recruiting local people into the terrorist organisation.
A joint team of 19RR of Police and Army had cordoned off the area and launched a search operation in Batkoot forest. As the joint team of police intensified their search towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists opened fire on the search party, following which an encounter ensued in which all the three terrorists were killed.
Notably, Ashraf was included in the list of wanted terrorists released at the time of Maulvi Burhan Wani and the police was in search of him. There was also a reward of Rs 10 lakhs on him.
It is to be noted that ahead of the commencement of the annual Amarnath Yatra from June 30, the security forces have launched a major operation against terrorists in areas of South Kashmir. So far, the security forces have eliminated 65 terrorists in the Kashmir Valley since the beginning of the year.